Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for January 2017

Thank you, John and Trish!

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This winter morning dawned (at least by my info) at -1 with a -11 wind chill! Dependent on where you are, it may sound horrifying or balmy. But these mornings are some of the most beautiful ones of winter here and the dry cold brings sunrises that turn the surrounding mountains and valleys pink, blue and purple. While all the humans are bundled to the extreme, when greeting the chimps this morning they were all bouncing through their comfy chimp house, safe, warm and excitedly awaiting breakfast service. Negra was sitting in her nest surrounded by several members of her chimp family who were grooming her, each of them wrapped in the morning sun just coming up over the hills and streaming in the windows.

This comforting day of sanctuary was sponsored for the chimps by John Loesch who shared: “My wife, Trish loves the chimps so I am sponsoring a day too!!!” (Trish has an upcoming day of sanctuary this Friday in honor of Burrito’s birthday!).

John, thank you so much for your generous gift and to both you and Trish for loving the chimpanzees! Your compassion makes a safe home filled with love, dignity, comfort and family the every day reality for the chimps. A reality they probably never had the chance to even imagine before arriving to the sanctuary. And we thank you and all who ensure the chimps’ lives are now filled with hope and bright, new horizons every day.

Negra in front of window

And yes, you heard correctly, ANOTHER party is in the works for this Friday! But of course! It’s Burrito’s birthday!

Happy Birthday, Manuela!

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It never ceases to amaze us, the love and care that abounds for the chimpanzees from wonderful people the world over. Today Manuela Santacreu is gifting the chimpanzees with a day of sanctuary in celebration of her 50th birthday! Manuela has been celebrating her birthdays with the chimpanzees for the past few years and it means so much to us and especially the chimps. She shared this message about her gift:

“Pour mes 50 ans, le plus beau des cadeau ce sera le bien être sur le visage de Foxie et ses compagnons ! Merci pour tout ce que vous faites pour eux, et pour le plaisir que me procure la lecture de leurs aventures sur FB!” (Translated with relative accuracy we hope 🙂 ) “For my 50 years, the most beautiful gift will be the well being on the face of Foxie and her companions! Thank you for everything you do for them, and for the pleasure of reading their adventures on FB!”

Manuela, thank you so much for your generous gift! We hope you’re having a beautiful day of celebration on your very special day. We are at the beginning of another arctic blast here at the sanctuary with temperatures near and below zero at night and only reaching low teens during the day so the chimps will be celebrating along with you from the warmth of their toasty chimp house.

Foxie and her beloved France Dora, enjoying warmer days:

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year everyone!!

Many of you avid blog readers know that we like to celebrate the holidays here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and since it’s New Year’s Day, we decided to throw another party! Parties are a great way to celebrate holidays, birthdays, the changing of the seasons, and just-because days.

What gets the chimpanzees so excited about parties you might ask? Well, I’d like to sometimes think it’s all about how we decorate the various enclosures…

…but really, it’s more about the food and drinks. In fact, food and drinks tend to be the central theme to most any party.

Little did I know, until Diana brought it up, that there are traditional foods eaten the night before and on New Year’s Day. Black eyed peas, green foods, grapes and cabbage are a few foods considered to bring abundance, luck and prosperity in the New Year. And circle-shaped foods signify the year coming full circle. So, in keeping with the green foods tradition, we set out green grapes, lettuce and alfalfa cubes and included round nuts for the circle shaped foods…

…and sparkling apple cider for toasting.

To keep with tradition, the dinner for tonight will include black eyed peas with rice, topped with roasted onions and sweet potatoes.

Here are some of the pictures from this morning’s party in the Playroom.

Jamie

Missy

Burrito

Foxie

Annie

Negra

Jody celebrated the New Year upstairs in the loft, so I was unable to get any photos of her.

Wishing you and yours a most happy New Year!!!

The first sponsored day of 2017!

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Can you believe it? It’s actually 2017!

A new day of a new year – fresh and waiting for what is to come.

Friend of the sanctuary Kathleen, who has donated her amazing graphic design talents on many projects for the sanctuary over the last few years, has the unique privilege of having this day in her honor. 

David Guernsey sponsored today in Kathleen’s honor with this message, When asked what Kathleen wanted for Christmas, her reply was a gift to her favorite friends at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW. January 1st seemed like a fitting day as I know she shares your excitement in the expansion of the sanctuary property. Happy New Year CSNW.

Thank you, David, and thank you, Kathleen for all of the wonderful things that you do for your chimpanzee friends.

Here’s to Hope.Love.Home…Sanctuary for more chimpanzees!

I thought I’d bring back a video in honor of Kathleen from last year of BFFs Missy and Annie, because this kind of love and silliness is what sanctuary is all about:

and some bonus photos of Negra, because… Negra:

Negra standing 2